Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 12th, 2020

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Understood. I understand. You're saying that you can't commit to its being completely eliminated in 2022.

I have limited time.

It's been recommended that the military Health Services Group, which treats all personnel, determines if a medical issue is an attribution of service. Why has that decision not been made? That would expedite files very quickly.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

We're doing everything to make sure we expedite files as quickly as possible. I told you what path we're on. That is the path we're on, that is what's going to deal with the backlog, and it will deal with the backlog.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Minister, the fastest way to eliminate the backlog would be to do what you did with CERB: to give people the CERB first and then later determine whether or not they're eligible.

If we can do that for high school students, for example, let's say, who earned $5,000 and then were immediately entitled to CERB, why can't we “believe veterans first”, give them the benefits they so desperately need and then review the file? You did it for students. Why can't you do it for veterans?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

I think my honourable colleague understands that the veterans application process is very different.

I think he also understands what would happen if we didn't hire those 350 extra people, if we didn't train them to deal with the backlog. We have to make sure that the files are dealt with appropriately. There are some very complex files, and we will continue to deal with them.

As I said, with this, we will address the backlog, and there will be a very small backlog, if any, after 2022.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Minister, you've done a—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

You have two seconds. Finish your thought.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

There's no point. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Next we have MP Fillmore, please.

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Thanks, Chair.

Let's hit the veterans independence program quickly, as we close up.

VAC is seeking $360 million for the VIP, which, for the benefit of committee members, provides funding for services such as grounds maintenance, housekeeping, meal preparation, personal care and professional health and support services for veterans.

Just quickly, I wonder if you can tell me about the uptake of the program. Have there had to be any adjustments because of the realities of COVID? Is there anything we need to be focusing on to make sure that veterans have access to home care while they're waiting for a contract bed?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Andy, that is a vitally important subject, of course, and it's been around before, and the last time I was in Veterans Affairs. This program is so vitally important to veterans. I will let the deputy answer as to how the uptake has been. I understand how critically important it is. It means that veterans can remain in their own homes a lot longer. They can remain independent a lot longer, and that's what we all want to see on this committee: to make sure they do.

I'll let the deputy expand on this with some more—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Be very quick, please.

[Gen (Ret'd) Walter Natynczyk]

Thanks very much.

The veterans independence program is a best practice globally. We know for certain that it is keeping our veterans alive and healthy much longer as a result of their being able to be as close as possible to home and family through their years of aging.

We have seen an increase across the board because, again, veterans do want to stay home. During COVID, we are also offering to the families, if they're worried about their loved ones who are in long-term care homes, to return them to their own homes and are providing additional support in their home places.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you very much.

Unfortunately, I have to step in. We do need to wrap up the hour, but I need to leave a minute here.

Pursuant to Standing Order—

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Yes, MP Brassard.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have submitted a motion to the clerk, in both official languages, which I would like to put forward right now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Can we vote on the main estimates or do you want to do this beforehand? We're running out of time here, sir.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Okay, so—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

We can come back to it. Is it about the main estimates or supplementary estimates, or is it about something else?

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

It's.... I don't know whether you have a copy of the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

I do not.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

It's a motion to report to the House, so I don't think it has anything to do with the main estimates or the supplementary estimates. As long as we come back to it after the vote, I would appreciate that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Okay. Number one, just procedurally, you can't move a motion on a point of order. That's number one.

Number two, can I ask your indulgence just to allow us to go through the procedure of reporting the main estimates? Then we're going to suspend and come back in the next hour with witnesses. When you have a time slot, you can speak at that point.

Is that fair?

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Chair, frankly, I'd like to move the motion then, not on a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

It requires 48 hours' notice, sir, if that's the case, because I don't have the motion. None of my colleagues here has the motion to do that.